Project on hold, pending funds

Plans to build a breakwater to protect the beach at Te
Rauone are on hold until the community raises the funds it
needs to contribute to the project.

It was hoped the breakwater groyne off the beach at Te Rauone
on Otago Peninsula would address long-standing erosion issues
on private property and Dunedin City Council reserve land.

Because the erosion was partially attributed to waves created
by ship movements, Port Otago agreed to cover $250,000 of the
$430,000 cost of the project, including the consent process,
renourishing the beach with sand and managing the project
implementation.

The council last year agreed to contribute $50,000 towards
the project, and $60,000 other funding was potentially
available if the balance of $70,000 was secured from the
community.

The latter money had not been forthcoming and Port Otago
wrote to the council in February to notify it it was going
put the project on hold until either the community,
particularly the private landowners who would benefit from
the project, came up with the money or the council committed
more money.

Chief executive Geoff Plunket said in the letter Port Otago
was still committed to the project but ''unless all
stakeholders are absolutely committed to the project, it will
be hard to achieve the funding required and the desired
outcome''.

Mr Plunket said while the project appeared to have the
support of the community, recent feedback to Port Otago
indicated that support had declined over the past year.

However, council parks manager Lisa Wheeler and Cr Neville
Peat told the council's community and environment committee
this week a meeting with community groups in March revealed
continuing significant support for the project and confidence
the money could be raised.

Te Rauone Incorporated, the largest adjoining landowner to be
protected by the breakwater, had agreed to become the
breakwater asset owner.

The landowner had undertaken to lead work to set up a Te
Rauone Breakwater Trust to fundraise for the shortfall,
manage the project works with assistance from Port Otago and
be responsible for maintenance and consent obligations.

She said that remained the position when she spoke with the
company last week.

The council's contribution could be carried forward to the
2014-15 year.

Meanwhile, the erosion continued to accelerate.

Separate intervention might be required to protect the
reserve or Harington Point Rd, to stop the harbour reaching
the road, which had no rock wall protection.

''Unfortunately, any emergency measures to mitigate erosion
will most likely require the use of rocks, sand and other
materials to create a physical barrier to wave action,'' Ms
Wheeler said.

''This will require consent to construct and will only
provide temporary respite and cause further erosion at the
`end wall' of the structure in the near future.''